What High End PreAmp do you have?
- Thread starter elny
- Start date
high end SQ
Amber Model 17 Full Function Preamp
outstanding phono stage
Amber Model 17 Full Function Preamp
outstanding phono stage
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Conrad Johnson
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Bottlehead - point-to-point hand wired with no printed circuit boards
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Nobsound NS-O1P with Telefunken 12ax7 tubes - high end sound with low end price
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Splatter Pak
High-End Scrounger
High-End Scrounger that I am, I use a Luxman A-007 integrated amp in my main system, as a preamp. It may not be quite "kosher," but it is more musical than my Marantz AV600 tuner/preamp, which I did use for a while. The soft plastic faceplate is badly scuffed, and so the Lux is ugly, and I can't help but wonder why it was done that way (cheap?) but as Han Solo said, "She's got it where it counts, kid." The Marantz was a better match for the power amp, both in finish and in width, but the sound won out.
arts
Addicted Member
Ooooh, now there is a classic! Me likes
CJ PV1 or ARC SP3, man, that would be a tough decision.
I don't have it yet but the innovative photo cell "Truth Preamp" is the best I've heard. The review tells it all but one other AK'er has one so I hope he chimes in.
http://www.high-endaudio.com/RECENT.html#March
I concur, and use one in my main system.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Ooooh, now there is a classic! Me likes
CJ PV1 or ARC SP3, man, that would be a tough decision.
The PV1 was too syrupy for my liking and the worst of the lot.
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Lavane
Lunatic Member
I've had more than a few since this thread was created. Both SS and tube. My main preamp is now an Ella from Erhard Audio. I've been really happy with it over the last few years. I really like the Aikido's. Clean and clear with plenty of punch.
The optional phono board using 6922's isn't bad either. After building a 9 pin version, I had to go octal.
The optional phono board using 6922's isn't bad either. After building a 9 pin version, I had to go octal.
sqlsavior
Lunatic Member
For many years I used a magnetic passive, sidelined now due to a flaky source selection switch. It was by far the clearest "preamp" I've heard, so much so that much of my listening was at fairly low volume. I'm now using the preamp section of my Luxman L-505u integrated. I consistently listen at a higher volume now, and consequently sometimes hear different musical aspects emphasized than at lower volumes, so it's been interesting in its own way too.
Champco
Super Member
Ha you laugh at the 2000 but can you tell me how you use the ambiance dial on it?Phase Linear 2000
I used mine for about 15 years till the push switches created noise. Never could figure the ambience dial.
Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
My pre-amp is a bit of an odd one, not sure if it counts as high end. I stole this image off the net, but its the same pre-amp with the same finish. I was fortunate enough to buy mine pre-owned from The Music Room, otherwise I could not afford it. It is a Halcro DM8. Kind of a homely thing, but it works nicely with a pair of AVM Audio AMP Essential I have acquired. I keep it hidden in an audio cabinet with doors, so no one has to look at its odd appearance.
PabloTincho
Super Member
Well my 1st preamp, A nice Audiolab 8000C, heavy, well made, love the motherboard
are those good caps ? should I recapped ? is from 1986
are those good caps ? should I recapped ? is from 1986
Pablo, you have a good preamp there. Clean design, high quality board, and I believe its already been completely rebuilt. The gold and black caps are Nichicon FG, the black and gold are Nichicon MUSE. Very few manufacturers use those, but they're my go-to parts when I rebuild something.
Either Audiolab put decent film caps in there originally, or whomever rebuilt it completely changed out the rest of the caps as well as the electrolytics. In fact, just glancing at it I'd say that the only original board-level stuff there would be the transistors, the diodes, and the cast resistors. I hope someone with Audiolab experience can clarify that for us.
How much did you spend?
